'Awesome Joey' from Stroudsburg plays Santa for needy kids

Ever since he was a toddler, 8-year-old "Awesome Joey The King" Fantozzi of Stroudsburg has been donating Christmas gifts to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office's annual holiday toy drive for less fortunate children.

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By ANDREW SCOTT

poconorecord.com

By ANDREW SCOTT

Posted Dec. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By ANDREW SCOTT

Posted Dec. 25, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

Ever since he was a toddler, 8-year-old "Awesome Joey The King" Fantozzi of Stroudsburg has been donating Christmas gifts to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office's annual holiday toy drive for less fortunate children.

Supported by his family and community in his ongoing battle against a form of leukemia that affects his white blood cells' ability to fight off infections, Joey is known as the "Awesome King" due to his extraordinarily positive attitude in living with this disease.

"We know Joey and his family don't do this to be in the spotlight, but it's nice to know there are still people who care about others," said Sheriff's Deputy Lois Lyon.

"Even before Joey and his family found out last year that he has leukemia, he knew there are other children who have it worse than he does and families who have less than his does," said Lyon. "Despite his illness, he still thinks about what can be done for others. His mother's definitely raising him the right way. We need more families like them."

Joey's mother, Nicole Fantozzi, agrees both about not looking to be in the spotlight and about how special her children are. The family for years has known Sheriff Todd Martin, himself a cancer patient, whose office started the toy drive 12 years ago.

"Sheriff Martin calls Joey his little buddy," Fantozzi said. "He was devastated when he learned Joey has a form of cancer, so now there's an even closer bond."

Fantozzi and her daughter, Kyra Scerbo, 15, shop throughout the year for Joey's Christmas gifts. As Christmas gets closer, other relatives and friends get Joey gifts, which he then donates.

"I like to donate my toys to other kids who don't have toys because I have a lot of toys," Joey said.